Chrysanthemum named Reagan

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named Reagan, bearing medium sized pale pink blooms with a yellow-green center and a performance of 24-28 days.

The present application is related to the following co-pending applications:

    ______________________________________                                         Application No.                                                                             Filing Date    Title                                              ______________________________________                                         07/780,304   October 22, 1991                                                                              Salmon Reagan                                      07/780,237   October 22, 1991                                                                              Orange Reagan                                      07/780,332   October 22, 1991                                                                              Dark Reagan                                        07/780,292   October 22, 1991                                                                              Coral Reagan                                       07/767,791   September 30, 1991                                                                            Sulfur Reagan                                      07/767,881   September 30, 1991                                                                            Yellow Reagan                                      07/780,238   October 22, 1991                                                                              Bronze Reagan                                      07/780,233   October 22, 1991                                                                              White Reagan"                                      ______________________________________                                    

ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF THE NEW PLANT

The new plant of the present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant which is a cross of unknown Chrysanthemum morifolium parents. The new and distinct cultivar was a seedling resulting from the open pollination among groups of chrysanthemum cultivars maintained under the control of the inventor for breeding purposes. The new and distinct cultivar was discovered in a greenhouse in Ter Aar, Holland in 1986. The invention has been asexually reproduced by cuttings in greenhouses at Ter Aar, Holland. The new cultivar has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive propagations.

SUMMARY OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention is a new and distinct variety of Chrysanthemum of a medium sized bloom and pink color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present new and distinct chrysanthemum cultivar is shown in the accompanying drawings, the color being as nearly true as possible with color photographs of this type.

Sheet 1 shows the full bloom of the new cultivar;

Sheet 2, top, shows various stages of bloom of the new cultivar; and

Sheet 2, bottom, shows the foliage and petiole of the new cultivar.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This new variety of chrysanthemum is of the botanical classification Chrysanthemum morifolium, and is named Reagan. When grown in the vicinity of Ter Aar, Holland, it has a response time of approximately 71/2 weeks. This new variety produces medium sized pink blooms with a yellow green center having a 4 week performance (i.e., a vase life of 24-28 days). This new variety of chrysanthemum has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics throughout successive propagations and may be planted under greenhouse conditions in Holland between weeks fifty and thirty-five (i.e., between December 1 and August 30). Pest resistance, disease resistance and frost tolerance are unknown.

The following is a description of the plant and characteristics (color designations are from RHS Color Chart) that distinguish it over related known varieties and its antecedents:

Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum morifolium.

Bud:

Size.--Medium (cross section±1.0 cm, height±0.7 cm.

Form.--Round and flat.

Outside color.--Grape-purple 186D but paler.

Bloom:

Size.--Medium.

Fully expanded.--61/2-7 cm.

Borne.--Upper portion, single flower per peduncle; lower portion, plural flowers per peduncle.

Stems.--Strong, thick.

Forms.--Single (daisy).

Performance.--Very good 24-28 days (18°-20° C.).

Color:

Center of flower.--Immature: yellow green 151 C. Mature: yellow green 154 A.

Base of petals.--Purple 75 B.

Inside of petals.--Purple 75 B.

Reverse of petals.--Red purple 69 A but paler.

Outer petals.--Red purple 75 B.

Tonality from a distance.--A pale pink daisy with a fresh looking center having little or no pollen.

Discoloration.--Some to red purple 69 D.

Pollen.--Yellow-orange 14A.

Petals:

Texture.--Upperside smooth, underside smooth.

Number.--24-30 (two rows).

Cross-section.--Flat, two keels.

Arrangements.--Imbricated.

Persistance.--Good. Petals keep straight or reflex somewhat at the edge at the end of blooming.

Fragrance.--Typical Chrysanthemum.

Disc diameter.--1.5 cm.

Reproductive organs:

Stamen.--Yellow, thick, 3 mm in length.

Pollen.--Appears at a late stage of blooming yellow orange in color.

Styles.--Green thick.

Length.--±5 mm.

Stigmas.--Yellow.

Width.--±1 mm.

Ovaries.--Enclosed in calyx.

Plant:

Form.--Spray mum meant for erect culture. Herbaceous.

Growth.--Strong.

Height.--100-125 cm.

Peduncle.--Near the top ±14 cm, near the middle ±24 cm, near the bottom ±28 cm.

Internodes.--3 cm.

Flowering response.--71/2 weeks.

Foliage:

Color.--Upperside green 137 A. Underside 137 C.

Size.--Length ±12 cm. Width ±9 cm.

Quantity.--22-28.

Shape.--Lobed, see photograph.

Texture.--Upperside rough. Underside smooth, slightly hirsute.

Ribs and veins.--Ribs well developed. Veins not so developed.

Edge.--Crenated.

Distinguishing characteristics of the chrysanthemum of the Reagan family are summarized below in the Table. Each of the titled Reagans having a color designation is an induced mutation by irradiation of Reagan.

                  TABLE IA                                                         ______________________________________                                         U.S.                                                                           Application                                                                    Ser. No. 07/780,305  07/780,223  07/780,292                                    Title    Reagan      White Reagan                                                                               Coral Reagan                                  ______________________________________                                         bud outside                                                                             greyed-purple                                                                              yellow 4d   greyed-purple                                 color    186d but paler          186a                                          center of                                                                      flower                                                                         immature:                                                                               yellow-green                                                                               yellow-green                                                                               yellow-green                                           151c        151c        151c                                          mature:  yellow-green                                                                               yellow-green                                                                               yellow-green                                           154a        154a        154a                                          base of  purple 75b  white 155d but                                                                             greyed-red                                    petals               whiter and  179c but                                                           brighter    redder                                        inside of                                                                               purple 75b  white 155d but                                                                             greyed-red                                    petals               whiter and  179c but                                                           brighter    redder                                        reverse of                                                                              red-purple 69a                                                                             white 155d but                                                                             greyed-yellow                                 petals   but paler   whiter and  162d tinged                                                        brighter    with red-                                                                      purple 71b                                                                     between ribs                                                                   and margin                                    outer petals                                                                            purple 75b  white 155d but                                                                             greyed-red                                                         whiter and  179c but                                                           brighter    redder                                        petal    flat        flat        flat                                          cross-section                                                                  ______________________________________                                         U.S.                                                                           Application                                                                    Ser. No. 07/780,332  07/780,237  07/780,238                                    Title    Dark Reagan Orange Reagan                                                                              Bronze Reagan                                 ______________________________________                                         bud outside                                                                             between greyed                                                                             greyed-red  greyed-red                                    color    purple 186a 180a        179c                                                   and b                                                                 center of                                                                      flower                                                                         immature:                                                                               yellow-green                                                                               yellow-green                                                                               yellow-green                                           151c        151c        151c                                          mature:  yellow-green                                                                               yellow-green                                                                               yellow-green                                           154a        154a        154a                                          base of  red-purple 69b                                                                             between greyed                                                                             yellow 8a with                                petals   lightly     orange 169a an overlay of                                          overlaid with                                                                              and b       greyed red                                             red-purple 72a          179b                                                   giving an                                                                      overall                                                                        impression of                                                                  purple 75a but                                                                 pinker                                                                inside of                                                                               red-purple 69b                                                                             between greyed                                                                             yellow 8a with                                petals   lightly     orange 169a an overlay of                                          overlaid with                                                                              and b       greyed red                                             red-purple 72a          179b                                                   giving an                                                                      overall                                                                        impression of                                                                  purple 75a but                                                                 pinker                                                                reverse of                                                                              red-purple 69c                                                                             nearest to  yellow 8c                                     petals   with a light                                                                               greyed-orange                                                                              tinged along                                           tessellation                                                                               163b tinged the center                                             of red-purple                                                                              with red    with greyed                                            72a         between the red 179b in a                                                      ribs        tesselated                                                                     pattern                                       outer petals                                                                            red-purple 69b                                                                             between     yellow 8a with                                         lightly     greyed-orange                                                                              an overlay of                                          overlaid with                                                                              169a and b  greyed red                                             red-purple 72a          179b                                                   giving an                                                                      overall                                                                        impression of                                                                  purple 75a but                                                                 pinker                                                                petal    convex      convex      flat                                          cross-section                                                                  ______________________________________                                         U.S.                                                                           Application                                                                    Ser. No. 07/767,881  07/767,791  07/780,304                                    Title    Yellow Reagan                                                                              Sulphur Reagan                                                                             Salmon Reagan                                 ______________________________________                                         bud outside                                                                             yellow 9c   yellow 10c  Nearest to                                    color                            yellow-orange                                                                  23d                                           center of                                                                      flower                                                                         immature:                                                                               yellow-green                                                                               yellow-green                                                                               yellow-green                                           151c        151c        151c                                          mature:  yellow-green                                                                               yellow-green                                                                               yellow-green                                           154a        154a        154a                                          base of  yellow 5c   yellow 6d   nearest to                                    petals                           orange 29c                                    inside of                                                                               yellow 5c   yellow 6d   nearest to                                    petals                           orange 29c                                    reverse of                                                                              yellow 4c   yellow 6d   nearest to                                    petals                           yellow-orange                                                                  22d                                           outer petals                                                                            yellow 5c   yellow 6d   nearest to                                                                     orange 29c                                    petal    flat        flat        flat                                          cross-section                                                                  ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE IB                                                         ______________________________________                                         U.S.                                                                           Application                                                                    Ser. No. 07/780,305  07/780,233  07/780,292                                    Title    Reagan      White Reagan                                                                               Coral Reagan                                  ______________________________________                                         stem information                                                               stem:    yellow-green                                                                               nearest     yellow-green                                  green color                                                                             144a        green 143c  144a                                          stem:    absent      absent      present                                       anthocyanin                                                                    coloration                                                                     stem:    medium      medium to   medium                                        strength             strong                                                    stem:    present     present     absent                                        brittleness                                                                    peduncle information                                                           lateral shoot:                                                                          medium      weak to     weak to                                       attachment to        medium      medium                                        stem                                                                           lateral shoot:                                                                          medium      medium      medium                                        angle                                                                          between                                                                        lateral shoot                                                                  and stem                                                                       additional foliage information                                                 leaf: shape of                                                                          round       round       round                                         base of sinus                                                                  between                                                                        lateral lobes                                                                  leaf:    converging  converging  converging                                    margins of                                                                     sinus between                                                                  lateral lobes                                                                  leaf:    rounded     asymmetric  asymmetric                                    shape of base                                                                  leaf: apex                                                                              cuspidate   mucronate   cuspidate                                     growth: difference in average length (in cms)                                         0         0           -5                                                response time: difference in days of average response                                 0         0           +1                                                response on alar: does that has to be used to get an average length            of about 90 cms (dose in grams per 100 liter of water)                                  300         300         250                                           year of  1986        1989        1988                                          discovery                                                                      ______________________________________                                         U.S.                                                                           Application                                                                    Ser. No. 07/780,332 07/780,237   07/780,238                                    Title    Dark Reagan                                                                               Orange Reagan                                                                               Bronze Reagan                                 ______________________________________                                         stem information                                                               stem:    yellow-green                                                                              between      yellow-green                                  green color                                                                             144a       yellow-green 144a                                                              144a and 146b                                              stem:    present    present      present                                       anthocyanin                                                                    coloration                                                                     stem:    medium     medium       medium                                        strength                                                                       stem:    present    present      absent                                        brittleness                                                                    peduncle information                                                           lateral shoot:                                                                          medium     medium       weak                                          attachment to                                                                  stem                                                                           lateral shoot:                                                                          medium     small        small                                         angle                                                                          between                                                                        lateral shoot                                                                  and stem                                                                       additional foliage information                                                 leaf: shape of                                                                          round      round        round                                         base of sinus                                                                  between                                                                        lateral lobes                                                                  leaf:    converging converging   converging                                    margins of                                                                     sinus between                                                                  lateral lobes                                                                  leaf:    asymmetric truncate     asymmetric                                    shape of base                                                                  leaf: apex                                                                              mucronate  cuspidate    cuspidate                                     growth: difference in average length (in cms)                                         0        +10          0                                                 response time: difference in days of average response                                 +1/2     -1           -1/2                                              response on alar: dose that has to be used to get an average length            of about 90 cms (dose in grams per 100 liter of water)                                  300        450          250                                           year of  1988       1988         1988                                          discovery                                                                      ______________________________________                                         U.S.                                                                           Application                                                                    Ser. No. 07/767,881  07/767,791  07/780,304                                    Title    Yellow Reagan                                                                              Sulphur Reagan                                                                             Salmon Reagan                                 ______________________________________                                         stem information                                                               stem:    yellow-green                                                                               nearest green                                                                              yellow-green                                  green color                                                                             146b        143c        144a                                          stem:    absent      absent      present                                       anthocyanin                                                                    coloration                                                                     stem:    medium      medium to   medium                                        strength             strong                                                    stem:    absent      absent      present                                       brittleness                                                                    peduncle information                                                           lateral shoot:                                                                          weak to     weak to     medium                                        attachment to                                                                           medium      medium                                                    stem                                                                           lateral shoot:                                                                          small       small       medium                                        angle                                                                          between                                                                        lateral shoot                                                                  and stem                                                                       additional foliage information                                                 leaf: shape of                                                                          round       round       round                                         base of sinus                                                                  between                                                                        lateral lobes                                                                  leaf:    parallel    parallel    parallel                                      margins of                                                                     sinus between                                                                  lateral lobes                                                                  leaf:    asymmetric  asymmetric  asymmetric                                    shape of base                                                                  leaf: apex                                                                              mucronate   mucronate   cuspidate                                     growth: difference in average length (in cms)                                         0         +10         +10                                               response time: difference in days of average response                                 +1        -1          0                                                 response on alar: dose that has to be used to get an average length            of about 90 cms (dose in grams per 100 liter of water)                                  280         450         350                                           year of  1990        1990        1987                                          discovery                                                                      ______________________________________                                     

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum, named Reagan, as described and illustrated. 